Quality automotive lighting products and accessories

Have you called Simon yet? Gotcha!

Actually this post is about buying the real stuff and not to be caught with inferior imitation products. I'm talking about the latest in cutting-edge quality automotive lighting products and accessories at an affordable pricing too.

Based in the West coast of North America, Xtralights is fully committed to supplying both retailers and wholesale customers with the latest in cutting-edge quality automotive lighting products and accessories and at affordable prices.

Established since 2003, their customer base has been growing ever since and it's not difficult to see why. Their existing customers stay loyal, due to the great service and support that they take genuine pride in.

Check out the site which is easy to navigate. Items are categorized according Makes including American Makes, European Makes, Japanese Makes and Korean Makes. You will also find Motorcycle Makes. Or if you prefer, you can shop by Brand.

Turning photographs into murals and decorative works of art

Rather than just committing it to memory, photography has taken making memories to a higher level. With digital cameras being an important part of our life, taking pictures of our friends and loved ones, of the places we have been to or even the food we have cooked up is commonplace in this day and age. We can now easily have these documented for looking back over the years.

Photography or rather digital photography has taken us even a step further. We can now make canvas prints from digital photographs we take. Photo4canvas is one high quality Canvas Printing company that has been helping people turn photos into large quality canvasses for many years. Getting it done with them is a simple process. You just take a photo, upload it and then email it to them. Alternatively, you can bring it into their office. They will then email you a proof for your review and approval - all at no charge. You can have your photos in a style you like including montage, basic style or even hand-drawn style. Photo4canvas can make your memories live on and in a big way too!

Photography and what we do with our photos are not the only things that have evolved. Living quarters and spaces have taken new forms. The other day, I talked about the first Container Hotel in Kuala Lumpur and recently, someone was talking about setting up a container in his backyard to increase storage space. I am sure he would be interested in a Shipping Containers Price list to make comparisons to secure a good buy.

The majority of containers at Sea Containers come with wooden floors though they are able to provide steel floored containers through basic modification. They sell brand new containers as well as pre-used units that have been professionally refurbished. Sea Containers have containers in all sizes - 8ft containers, 10ft containers, 20ft containers and 40ft containers available in both general and high cube/top options.

If you are in the market for Sheet Metal Fabricators, Amediate Engineering Ltd may be who you are looking for. Celebrating 20+ years in the business, they are a specialist fabrication engineering company founded in 1992. Their extensive projects include for boilers, breweries and bar pourers, telecommunications, civil and ground works, mounts and ladders, walkways and platforms, signs and many more.

Additionally, if you are looking for a CV joints or related products, you have come to the right place for a CV specialist. CV joints, CV boots, inner CVs and more are all available here.

Stolen Porsche Panamera recovered

Car thefts are pretty common in Malaysia, especially in the bigger cities especially in Kuala Lumpur. This is embarrassing but sadly it is true.

How many of us know someone who has been a victim of a car theft? I know someone who lost his Pajero from inside his home compound behind a high locked gate. Car was parked in front of the house at the car-porch. One morning, he found his car missing and it was just a few-month old vehicle. Another lost his Honda at a parking area near the LRT. I have no doubt you have your own car theft story.

The car in the picture is a Porsche Panamera, Porche's first luxury saloon car and is marketed as a higher performing alternative to other executive saloon cars.. It is a four-door saloon which was unveiled at the Shanghai Automobile Show in China in 2009.

This RM900,000 Porsche Panamera that was driven out of a showroom in Jalan Bukit Bintang on Oct 11 has been recovered.

Luxury recovery: Police forensics team and officers dusting the Porsche for fingerprints at city police headquarters.
Police believe there was a link to another theft of a luxury car in Cheras. In that incident, an Audi R8, worth around RM560,000, was stolen from a showroom there on Sept 6, using the same modus operandi.

The 31-year-old man who stole the car said he was paid RM30,000. He is still in remand.


Image source: The Star

Harper Beckham - Daughter of David and Victoria Beckham

Cute as a button, the little one, that is. That's Harper Beckham with her mum, Victoria Beckham, at the mum's New York Fashion Week show last week. (Source: Dailymail)

Meanwhile, dad, 37-year-old soccer star David Beckham, is apparently ready to part with $162,230 (£100,000) to buy the Aston Martin the car that Daniel Craig drives in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.

Being a huge Bond fan, Becks has always wanted to own something classy from the films. However fellow footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is also after the motor and is bidding for it too.

The two-door V12 DBS coupe will be the top attraction at Christie’s charity auction on October 5.

David Beckham's car collection is said to include Cadillacs, Porsches, Range Rovers, Bentleys and a Hummer. More..

Traffic in Kuala Lumpur

Traffic jams are a part of life in Kuala Lumpur, as in most other cities. Strangely, it gets worse on Friday evenings. Not sure whether it's because of the weekend ahead and people are rushing to go back to their hometown. Besides the added traffic that is causing the jam, cars stopping in the middle of a busy street due to a breakdown add to the equation.

Vehicle breakdowns may be inevitable, one may argue, but breakdowns can be minimised by giving the car its due attention when it comes to maintenance including servicing and parts replacements. Not sure if owning a truck involves more work but a parts and accessories site I came across certainly is well-stocked with truck parts. Auto Dog may be what you are looking for if you are a truck-owner. While you are at it, don't forget to check out their Clearance Sale items. You may be able to pick up something you need for your vehicle at a price hard to beat anywhere else.

Winner of Plate WWW 1

When the results of the winning bid for the vehicle registration number plate WWW 1 was announced a few days ago, everyone must have been wondering who won it. Wonder no more, The Star reported that:

Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail has won the tender for the much sought after car number plate WWW 1, with the highest bid of RM 520,000. The Sultan topped 9,999 other bidders.

Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar topped 9,999 other bidders including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who won the number plate WWW 5.

The results of the tender are available on the Road Transport Department (JP) website.

The number surpassed the record set by "MCA 1" in 2010 which was sold for RM300,100.


Source: The Star..WWW 1 bid winner is Johor Sultan

Update:
Related articles:
- Johor Sultan is owner of number plate WWW 1
- Johor Tengku Mahkota hits out at critics of WWW 1 bid

- Sultan wants WWW 1 to be fixed on national car

Ferrari accident in Singapore - Watch collision impact on video

Are you always in a rush to get going the minute the light turns green? You may think again after watching the video which captured the recent accident at Bugis Junction in Singapore on Saturday in which three people were killed after a red Ferrari jumped a red light and rammed into a taxi which subsequently hit a motorbike.

The three who died are the driver of the red Ferrari, Ma Chi, a Chinese national, a financial investor from Sichuan who together with his wife and child had relocated to Singapore four years ago; the 52-year-old taxi driver, Cheng Teck Hock, who died in Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Sunday evening after his heart stopped; and his passenger, Shigemi Ito, a Japanese woman in her 20s believed to be living and working in Singapore.

The video..


The two survivors of this horrific accident are 26-year-old motorcyclist, Muhammad Najib Ghazali, and a 20-something female passenger in the Ferrari, believed to be also a Chinese national, a student who earlier on was celebrating at a graduation party with her classmates. Ms Wu Wei Wei, a student from Wuhan, China, has just completed a hospitality course at the East Asia Institute of Management.

Watching the video, there is no denying that it is all so fast, so surreal. The cars were certainly real, not plastic model car kits that kids play with or adults collect them as a hobby.

Again, take a minute or two before you step on that accelerator. Also, most importantly, never jump a red light!


Sources:
- Yahoo
- The Straits Times
- YouTube

How to tell when a tire was manufactured

I heard a shriek of delight in another cubicle in the office this afternoon. A colleague managed to win a bid on a watch he's been eyeing.

Nowadays, we can buy almost anything online, watches, fishing rods, golf clubs, even Michelin Pilot Road 3 tires, the latter you may even be able to get them on a sale price plus free shipping.

On the subject on tires, I read that tires can be used for up to six years which is a conservative estimate some people believe. Did you know you can check when a tire was manufactured? The identification number on the side of the tire has the information. The last four numbers designate the week and year the tire was made.

Rotating tires will help them last longer by maintaining more even wear but you already knew that.

Beside a beautiful orange Lamborghini

On my last visit to Genting Highlands last year, outside the main hotel, Maxims Genting, people were milling around some 7 to 8 expensive-looking imported European cars, including Lamborghinis and Ferraris. The people were peering into the cars and taking pictures of them as well as having their own picture taken standing next to one.

It was a misty, cold morning. Huddled under my jacket standing just outside the hotel entrance, one lady, I noticed, spent an extraordinarily long time having her picture taken in various poses and at different corners beside an orange model, not unlike the one below.

Beautiful cars are normally pictured alongside good-looking people (or at least perceived such) or you see beautiful ladies posing beside these vehicles in a roadshow. The picture below, has a different setting however. I wonder where was this taken. Perhaps KL Chinatown?

This image is today's winner of The Star's Thumbnail, a readers submission corner of daily images. Titled, Rich dad, poor dad, this was taken by Kenny Seow @ Weng Leong with the caption Wealth disparity rearing its ugly head. Indeed.

UPDATE:
Received three comments (two anonymous) on this post indicating that Kenny Seow is not the owner of the picture.

Profanity is not tolerated here so one anonymous comment has been deleted. I would still like to use this image because it fits in well with my post and is well-taken and reflects the reality of life.

If you are the owner and would like to have image removed, please leave a comment or you can send me an email. Alternatively, if you do not mind image to be used here, please advise as to whom it should be creditted to. Will gladly give due credit.

Looking for a Cheap Auto Insurance rate?

A new office-mate recently realized that his auto insurance will be expiring soon. He is thinking of switching to a new insurer and being someone from out-of-town, he consulted with a few car-owners in the office.

Malaysia does not have that many insurance companies but he did manage to find one that provides a cheap auto insurance rate for his car. We all know that cheap doesn't necessarily mean "unreliable". It just means "inexpensive" and one that could meet or even exceed your needs.

Get the right insurance coverage for your Recreational Vehicle (RV)

Most ordinary auto insurers treat your recreational vehicle (RV) like it's just a big car. But if you have such a vehicle, you may want to get specialised rv insurance protection that not only insures your vehicle but at least covers some of these as well:

- coverage for personal belongings
- one policy for both RVs and autos
- allowance for emergency expenses (which helps cover food, lodging and travel)
- storage option
- service call allowance that pays for an expert come to you at location of your choice
- hitch coverage
- and others.

Yep, get real protection for your home away from home..

Last day - Snap for Cash Contest at the KL International Motor Show

Photography enthusiasts are still in the running to win the RM5,000 prize at the KL International Motor Show at PWTC. Today is the last day to get up close to the StarMotoring models in the Snap for Cash contest at the Motor Show.

The models will be wearing StarMotoring, RedFM and Daily Chilli sashes. You will find them at the Star booth in Hall 2 or moving among the crowd.

All you need do is to go up to the girls, give them your particulars and snap a picture with them.

Then, submit your best photo to the contest site at star-motoring.com/snapforcash.
StarMotoring has set up an online self-registration page to facilitate picture uploading and voting.
Go to http://www.star-motoring.com/snapforcash/ .

On the top right corner of the navigation bar, click on “Log in and Register Here”.  Fill in your details in the registration section and check your email for the link to the upload page.

Today is the last day, so hurry to stand a chance to win that RM5,000 prize money!  Good luck!


Image source: The Star

Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2010

The KL International Motor Show 2010 (KLIMS'10) is back! Held at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) spread over four exhibition halls, the motor show started yesterday (Dec 3) and will be on until Dec 12 - ten full days of pretty things.

Among the cars on display is Honda Malaysia's affordable version of a petrol-electric hybrid car, the Insight. This hybrid is powered by an improved 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine and a new generation Integrated Motor Assist system to improve overall engine performance. It is priced at RM98,000.

Honda Insight

Other hybrids that will be on display are the Toyota FT-HS, Lexus LS 600hL, Mitsubishi PX-MiEV and Chery A5 BSG.

At the Proton booth, there is its series of the Pahlawan range, cars inspired by the five legendary warriors of the Malacca's historical era – Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir, Hang Lekiu and Hang Kasturi. The Tuah is a large sedan concept, Jebat a high performance sedan, Lekir a sports car, Lekiu a five-door crossover and Kasturi an entry level sedan. See them all at the motor show.

Bezza is Perodua's concept vehicle at the motor show. The Bezza, a compact model comes with rear sliding doors and seats that can swivel for easy exit. It also features intelligent multimedia and mobile connectivity.

Perodua Bezza

Admission for adults is RM15 on weekdays and RM20 on weekends and public holidays. Admission for children is RM5 on all days. Psst.. you will also get to see the Batmobile and Transformers Bumblebee live (the latter a first in Malaysia) and get to win a brand new Toyota Prius and lots of other attractive prizes!

Check out this video for a peek into vehicles on display at this year's KL Motor Show..




Image sources:
Top image - KLIMS website
Last three images - The Star

A Guide for Car-Buyers - CarConnection

A friend of a friend who bought a Toyota Prius (before the price was greatly reduced) is very happy with the vehicle especially at its fuel-efficiency.

The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size car developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation.  The Wikipedia says, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Prius is the most fuel efficient gasoline car currently sold in the U.S. and  the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) also rate the Prius as among the cleanest vehicles sold in the United States based on smog forming and toxic emissions.

The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, and is sold in more than 70 countries.  In May 2008, it hit the milestone of 1 million units sold worldwide and went on to reach a new height of 2 million in September 2010.  The U.S. is the largest market.  Interested in knowing more? Here's where you can get more info.

The normal thing to do if we are planning to buy a car whether brand new or secondhand, is we do some research. A site that shouldn't be missed is CarConnection.com. With their extensive archive of car reviews on both old and new cars, detail info on each make of vehicle and other info, news, etc., theirs is one source every car-buyer should use as a car-guide. There is really a lot of information on this site.

Let's say if you are looking to buy a Ford Focus. On the page you will find a whole host of information pertaining to this car, from photos to videos, even a 360deg tour of it. You will also find expert reviews and consumer opinions, price reports, also a free price quote on a new unit, and suggestions for a used unit as well. You can also check insurance rates for Ford Focus. The site also provides a listing of this make in other years in case you may be interested in a used unit. Similar type of info can also be obtained on other vehicles including the Audi A4 and the Subaru Legacy? CarConnection.com is the site to go to for all things cars. Check it out for yourself.

Google testing their driverless cars

Technology has taken us to the moon and back, made a lot of other activities possible and soon technology will make space tourism a reality. And in the offing too are cars that will operate without any need of a driver.

Yes, Google Inc. is road-testing cars that steer, stop and start without a human driver. The goal is to "help prevent traffic accidents, free up people's time and reduce carbon emissions" through ride sharing and "the new 'highway trains of tomorrow,'" project leader Sebastian Thrun wrote Saturday on Google's corporate blog.

According to Google's corporate blog, The cars have traveled a total of 140,000 miles on major California roads without much human intervention.

The cars know speed limits, traffic patterns and road maps using video cameras, radar sensors and lasers to detect other cars. The cars are safer because they react more quickly than humans according to their engineers.

They have been tested navigating San Francisco's curvy Lombard Street, Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard and the cliff-hugging Pacific Coast Highway, according to the blog.

Tire Chains for that safe Winter trip

Tire chains, or snow chains are devices which are affixed to the tires of vehicles to provide superior traction when driving through snow and ice. In our tropical climate, we have no need for such a device but in countries where there is winter and in elevated places, every car is required to carry them or risk being turned back by officers manning chain controls.

Tire chains are usually sold in pairs and purchased to match a particular tire size (tire diameter and tread width). Tire Chain Dealer, an online dealer in tire chains, has a wide selection of tire chains to suit every vehicle type. They focus on chains that are easy to install - not the ones that get people frustrated. Their most popular product is the Grip tire chain which can be installed in less than 2 minutes per tire and cost less than $100. If you are unsure of the right chain, you can search their site by tire size. Having the right tire chains for your vehicle is important for safe travel.

Tire Chain Dealer is a resource for getting information on Tire Chains and to help you determine which snow chains are right for you. Several of their products have installation movies to teach you how to install them. Below is one such video.

TheCarConnection.com - for Everything Cars

If you're looking to buy a car, either used or new, and are looking for reviews to get more information on the model you have in mind, The Car Connection is where you'd want to look.

The Car Connection provides up-to-date commentary on cars, both new and used cars. You'll find reviews and comparisons of the latest new vehicles, with easy-to-read summaries of styling, performance, utility, safety and value.

An extensive range of cars, of different makes and models, have been test-driven and reviewed. If you're looking for a small car, their review on Fiat 500 should give you some insights into this car. Or perhaps, the VW golf might interest you. The Golf is Volkswagen's small hatchback, offered in two- and four-door variants. However, if you are in the market for a pickup truck, not the huge model but something a little compact, the Ford Ranger may be up your alley.

Looking for a family car instead? The Toyota Sienna is a popular, family-oriented minivan model. The U.S.-made Sienna has V-6 power and available all-wheel drive and is an alternative to a wide range of minivan models.

For everything cars - news and views, tips and guides - make The Car Connection your resource. Bookmark it!

Trading Post for Used Cars and More

If you are in Australia and are looking to buy a used car, Trading Post may be just the site for you.

Trading Post has a massive range of used cars for sale - all 60,000 of them, comprising small, medium, family & prestige cars, utes, 4x4's, sports & performance cars and vans and others. A wide range of makes and models can be found here.

However, if you have a car for sale, you can also do so at Trading Post. Creating an ad is an easy process, in just three simple steps - select item, add in description, checkout. Two out of three people sell within two weeks.

Trading Post is not only a site for buying and selling used cars, it also has a very useful used car guide and used car reviews. As the name implies, Trading Post deals in a lot more items including pets, furniture, home, travel and lots more. Check out the site, it's practically a one-stop shop.

Ferrari Parts are only a Drive or a Click away

I was invited to view a new property last week, whose owner has recently taken delivery of the keys. There in the parking lot was a bright lime green Lamborghini in the hardly-occupied parking lot. It's a brand new condo complex, you see.

As people become more brand conscious, including in the automobiles department, we are seeing more and more luxury cars on the road even though our roads do not cater to these high-speed cars that well.

Did you know that there are about 250 brand new Ferraris sold in Malaysia, of which 20 units were sold last year? The recent opening of Naza Italia Sdn Bhd’s RM20 million showroom and service centre for Ferrari and Maserati has made it more convenient for such car owners in terms of car sevice and availability of Maserati and Ferrari parts. Singapore used to be where the car owners head to.

Ferrari’s price ranges are from RM1.8 million onwards while a Maserati car is priced from RM1.18 million onwards.


Image source: Ferrari Malaysia

The Importance of Cables

If we were to analyse the workings of most gadgets and equipment, part of what makes them tick is the cable network.

For example, something as familiar as our car needs a system of various cables to get it moving as well as other parts of it working. The different cables would include automotive control cables, automotive clutch cables, automotive hood release cables, automotive brake release cables, and automotive seat cables. Looking at the names of each, you would have an idea what each cable is tasked to do.

Since 1974, CMA (Cable Manufacturing and Assembly Co. Inc.) has been designing and manufacturing quality mechanical cable assemblies for the Transportation, Furniture, Recreational Products and Medical industries. Many of the things with cable systems that we are using everyday could have been designed and manufactured by CMA.

If you are in an industry that requires the need for cables, CMA would be just the right supply source. If your requirement is for custom-made cables, their design engineers will work with you to design the most cost efficient and reliable cable assembly for your application.